Dancing Cats, raku (approx. 12.5”W x 10.5”H) by Betsy Parker
Form: Sculptural & Functional opens at Sunset River Gallery in Calabash, NC on Friday, May 3 and runs through Saturday, June 8. Featuring artists from North and South Carolina, the juried 3D show includes works in clay, fiber, steatite, bronze, art glass, and more. An opening reception to meet the artists is scheduled for May 3 from 5 -7 p.m. Best in Show will be named at that time. A People’s Choice honor will be awarded at show’s end.
The 38 pieces in the exhibition include clay vessels by NC potter Betsy Sellers, raku by Wilmington, NC artist Betsy Parker, saggar fired vases from Mark Golitz of BluSail Golitz Studios, and sgraffito by Raine Middleton. Other clay artists include Marilyn Kearney, Mandy Todd, Genie Bryce, and Beverly Dorland. There is fused glass by Kathryn Turnauer and metal art by Colleen Dougherty Bronstein. Multimedia works by John Rood and Marc Chicoune are also among the juried show pieces. Fiber art offerings include work by Kathleen Stuart and Megan Laquerela. Multimedia wall hangings are by Kathryn Holliday and Roseann Bellinger. Debanjana Bhattacharjee’s entry is a bronze wall panel.
According to gallery director Samantha Spalti, “We wanted a mix of both form and function for this show. Creativity, artistry, and skill were all key factors. I’m excited for everyone to see the show and meet the artists at our opening reception!” Sunset River Gallery is located at 10283 Beach Drive SW in Calabash, NC. Regular hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Call 910.575.5999 or visit the website (sunsetrivergallery.com) for more information.
Earlier this year, Sunset River Gallery put out a call for professional 2D and 3D artists who reside or have a studio in North or South Carolina. Gallery director Samantha Spalti said, “We are looking for the best of the best – accomplished artists with passion, talent, and a body of work to present.”
Artists from all over the two states, working in a range of media, responded to the call and Spalti has been viewing artwork and meeting with artists ever since.
Artist Debanjana Bhattacharjee, Shoreline Serenade, oil, 24×3
Spalti said that there were 13 new artists added to the gallery roster with several more to follow over the next month. The initial group of newly accepted artists includes Abby Warman (oil), Clay Johnson (oil), Rachel Jones (oil and watercolor), Kimberley Yoh (bronze), Sandy Nelson (oil), Jonathan Douglas (oil), Donna Mertz (fiber), Ron Parent (oil), Debanjana Bhattacharjee (oil), Gail Black (oil), Louise Giordano (fiber), Janet Boschker (oil and cold wax), and Joyce Fiedler (seaglass).
Not yet showing at Sunset River Gallery but scheduled later this month are Marybeth Bradbury (mixed media), Kurt Klimak (stained glass), Steve Middleton (oil), Kari Feuer (oil), Quinn Sweeney (oil), and Cathryn Collopy O’Donnell (acrylic).
“Our regular collectors are going to love these new artists. The talent is off the charts, and they are already a wonderful addition to the gallery. We’re very excited to have them join Sunset River Gallery,” Spalti added.
About Sunset River Gallery
Located in coastal Brunswick County, NC, Sunset River Gallery caters to both area visitors and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring works by over 100 fine regional artists including Betty Anglin Smith, Marcus McClanahan, Janet Sessoms, and Richard Staat, among others, the gallery is well known in the area for its selection of oil paintings; watermedia; pastels; photography; hand-blown, stained, and fused glass; pottery and clay sculpture; turned and carved wood; unique home décor items; and artisan jewelry.
There are two onsite kilns and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. The gallery also offers ongoing oil/acrylic and watercolor classes as well as workshops by nationally and regionally known instructors.
The gallery’s carefully curated selection of investment-grade 20th century fine art is the largest in the Carolinas. Current inventory can be found in the gallery website’s 20th Century Artists section. It includes works by Wolf Kahn (1927-2020), Ed Mell (1942), Raimonds Staprans (1926), Angell Botello (1913-1986), Vladimir Cora (1951), Hunt Slonam (1951), Ginny Crouch Stanford (1950), sculptor Edward Francis McCartan (1879-1947), and two bronze sculptures by Milton Hebald (1930 – 2010).
In 2023, Sunset River Gallery, Inc. acquired Cordier Auctions in Harrisburg, PA, a premier auctioneer of fine and decorative art, coins and jewelry, estates and real estate, and collectibles.
Sunset River Gallery in Calabash, NC will present Coastal Blues, a multi-media group show, from March 22 through April 27. The exhibit will feature oil, pastel, acrylic, and watercolor paintings along with a range of pottery, wood, glass, and other 3D art pieces. Participating artists include Lee Mims (oil), Marcus McClanahan (acrylic), Nancy Hughes Miller (oil), Samantha Spalti (acrylic), Becky Steele (acrylic), William West (watercolor), Judi Moore (acrylic), Yuriy Petrov (acrylic), Connie Winters (oil), Donn McCrary (acrylic), Vicki Neilon (acrylic), Ardie Praeterious (clay), Joy Parks Coats (acrylic), Carol Iglesias (pastel), Ophelia Staton (acrylic), Joyce Parks Coats (acrylic), Roseann Bellinger (acrylic), Cathryn Jirlds (photography), Catherine Porter Brown (oil), Karen Tillman (oil), Diane Flanegan (stained glass), Ginny Lassiter (acrylic), Bob Moffett (wood), Joe DiGiulio (acrylic), Wes Wagner (wood), Betsy Sellers (clay), and Brian Evans (clay).
Artist: Lee Mims, Alone Time, oil, 16”x16″
Gallery director Samantha Spalti said, “This show is a great example of how traditional and contemporary art work together. And I love how these artists have used blue in their work – sometimes a major color block and others a well-placed accent. Blue can bring a sense of calm to the viewer, or it can be bold and energetic. It’s all in the hands of the artist. I’m excited for the community to come and enjoy our Coastal Blues show.”
About Sunset River Gallery
Located in coastal Brunswick County, NC, Sunset River Gallery caters to both area visitors and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring works by over 100 fine regional artists including Betty Anglin Smith, Marcus McClanahan, Janet Sessoms, and Richard Staat, among others, the gallery is well known in the area for its selection of oil paintings; watermedia; pastels; photography; hand-blown, stained, and fused glass; pottery and clay sculpture; turned and carved wood; unique home décor items; and artisan jewelry.
There are two onsite kilns and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. The gallery also offers ongoing oil/acrylic and watercolor classes as well as workshops by nationally known instructors.
The gallery’s carefully curated selection of investment-grade 20th century fine art is the largest in the Carolinas. Current inventory can be found in the gallery website’s 20th Century Artists section. It includes works by Wolf Kahn (1927-2020), Ed Mell (1942), Raimonds Staprans (1926), Angell Botello (1913-1986), Vladimir Cora (1951), Hunt Slonam (1951), Ginny Crouch Stanford (1950), and two bronze sculptures by Millton Hebald (1930 – 2010).
Sunset River Gallery in Calabash, NC will host Art For Maui, a two-week fundraiser to benefit residents of Maui who are suffering losses from the devastating fires early in August. Art For Maui opens Monday, Sept. 4 and runs through Saturday, Sept. 16. Many local North and South Carolina artists have donated original artwork for the event. According to gallery director Samantha Spalti, 100% of sales from the show will go to Hawai’I Community Foundation’s Maui Strong initiative.
At press time, more than 45 donated pieces included oil paintings, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, pastel, photography, pottery, jewelry, glass, cards, and fiber art. Several local authors have also donated books for the event.
Island Life, artist Ruth Cox, acrylic 24×24
Hearts for Hawaii, acrylic by Vicki Neilon
So far, participating artists include Linda Thomas, RL Thomas, Linda Myers, Teri M. Brown, Nancy McClure, Wil Goff, Cynthia Blake, Lorraine Selway, Gary Baird, Freeman Beard, Mona Bendin, Kristen Rahn, Samantha Spalti, Linda Young, Holly Clark-Dull, Elena Wright, Featherwood Earrings, Barbara Bryant, Roseann Bellinger, Karen Casciani, Barbara McCumber, Vicki Neilon, Rachel Sunnell, and Barbara Karkut.
Hope by Roseann Bellinger, acrylic
Spalti said, “We invite our community to step up and help the people of Maui. This is a desperate situation, and we are happy to be part of the solution. The outpouring of offers and interest in Art For Maui have been heart-warming for all of us here at the gallery.”
Opening Friday, Sept. 15 and running through Saturday, Oct. 21 is Frank Campion – Dichotomies. When gallery director Samantha Spalti saw Frank Campion’s work for the first time, her reaction was nothing less than visceral. “It was that powerful,” she says. “In front of me was this stunning abstract painting that had so much movement, such emotion that it took my breath away.”
The show includes works on both canvas and paper. About this show, the artist says, “The dictionary defines ‘dichotomy’ as ‘a division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups – a dichotomy between thought and action.’It occurs to me that we tend to be naturally judgmental, making the world a binary proposition: good/bad, yes/no, on/off, right/wrong, hot/cold, rough/smooth, etc. So, this new work is about dichotomies.
One dichotomy involves the collision between the rational and the random. The rational is the simple geometric, intentional composition. The random is the occurrence of accidental painterly incidents. The other dichotomy has to do with the meeting of dominant colors that exist independently, but live adjacent to each other. This creates an emotional atmosphere or mood. as the work progresses.
Campion, who works out of his studio near Winston-Salem, was featured in Liza Roberts’ 2022 book The Art of the State, celebrating artists who are contributing to the North Carolina’s growing reputation in visual arts. He says, “As abstract as it may initially appear, my work is essentially derived from the tradition of landscape painting. the issues of space and atmosphere seem always to be with me as are the more formal issues about what constitutes an authentic painting – proportion, form, color, composition, and surface.”
After earning his bachelor’s degree in fine arts at Harvard, Campion taught design and drawing before showing his work in group shows at the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Danforth Museum, and the Boston Museum of Fine Art, which has one of his pieces in its permanent collection. He also enjoyed a number of critically successful solo shows during that time. A 30-year career in advertising brought him to North Carolina. When the time came to retire, he was ready to pick up where he left off.
Campion says, “In the fall of 2014, I saw the Matisse cut-outs exhibit at MoMA in NYC. I rediscovered a passion for color. This led me into the graph paper maquette/collages and got me thinking about color and larger scale.”
He built his own dream studio off the back of the house and that is where he is today. Frank Campion calls himself a “re-emerging artist.”
The opening reception is set for Friday, Sept. 15 from 5 – 7 p.m. This is an ideal opportunity for artists, students, and collectors to meet and speak with a forceful voice in North Carolina arts.
About Sunset River Gallery
Located in coastal Brunswick County, NC, Sunset River Gallery caters to both area visitors and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring works by over 100 fine regional artists including Betty Anglin Smith, Marcus McClanahan, Pat Puckett, and Angie Sinclair, among others, the gallery is well known in the area for its selection of oil paintings; watermedia; pastels; photography; hand-blown, stained, and fused glass; pottery and clay sculpture; turned and carved wood; unique home décor items; and artisan jewelry.
There are two onsite kilns and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. The gallery also offers ongoing oil/acrylic and watercolor classes as well as workshops by nationally known instructors.
The gallery’s carefully curated selection of investment-grade 20th century fine art is the largest in the Carolinas. Current inventory can be found on Artsy and the gallery website’s 20th Century Artists section. It includes works by Wolf Kahn (1927-2020), Ed Mell (1942), Raimonds Staprans (1926), Angell Botello (1913-1986), Emile Gruppe (1896-1998), Rolph Scarlett (1889 – 1984), Vladimir Cora (1951), Hunt Slonam (1951), Ginny Crouch Stanford, a bronze sculpture by Glenna GoodAcre (1939 – 2020), two bronzes by Millton Hebald (1930 – 2010) and a life-size bronze by Edward McCartan (1879-1947).
Mary Burton is such a good author that I’m always watching for her new books.
I really like a setting that is current or in the near future, also the locations in North Carolina where I recognize the places and those dunes.
Buried and lost memories and fiction are sometimes joined and hard to decipher, but by the end of the book we understand enough of the past and its effect on the present and a possible future.
I did not predict the ending, but it suited me just fine. Grab this book now, and you won’t put it down until finished.
Sunset River Gallery in Calabash, NC will host Hearts + Arts, the gallery’s first annual fundraiser, on June 2 from 5 – 7 p.m. This year’s beneficiary is Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, the area’s largest nonprofit provider of hospice, palliative, and grief care covering Brunswick, New Hanover, Columbus, Pender, Onslow, Robeson, Bladen, and Duplin Counties in North Carolina; and Horry, Georgetown, and Marion Counties in South Carolina.
Artist Chantal Tomiello, La Vie en Rose, acrylic 40×30Artist Brian Evans, 23-inch faceted clay vase/vesselArtist Diane Flanegan, stained glass 20×20Artist Jeffcoat Pottery (Joe & Tonda Jeffcoat), 15-inch surface carved cobalt blue platterArtist Ginny Lassiter, Day at the Beach I and II, 12×12 eachArtist Marcus McClanahan, Two Boats, oil 24×30Artist Rich Flanagan, Dusk at Sunset, oil 24×18Artist Janet B Sessoms, Toes in the Sand II, oil 14×18
Tickets are $20 per person. The evening will include entertainment by the AfterHours jazz ensemble, heavy hors d’oeuvres by local chef Philip Laura, complimentary wine bar and a fine art silent auction. One hundred percent of ticket and auction sales will go to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare.
Fine art pieces for the silent auction include works by some of the area’s most acclaimed artists. Marcus McClanahan’s “Two Boats” is an oil painting on board, which demonstrates McClanahan’s signature brushstrokes and broken color. Janet B. Sessoms, known for her mastery of light and shadow also donated an oil painting, “Toes in the Sand II.” The gallery’s former owner Ginny Lassiter donated a pair of her seemingly spontaneous acrylic abstracts titled “Day at the Beach I and II.” Raleigh, NC artist Chantal Tomiello’s offering is “La Vie En Rose,” a large acrylic still life in which she has deconstructed her realistic subject into abstraction. Ruth Cox, who teaches both acrylic and oil at the gallery, has donated her acrylic painting “Peaceful Moment” for the event. Rich Flanegan’s, “Dusk on the Coast,” is oil on canvas and depicts a coastal scene resplendent with white capped waves and moving clouds. From stained glass artists Diane Flanegan comes a 20- x 20-inch brilliantly colored floral panel. Also up for auction is a generous $1,000 gift certificate for a photo session with Vann Fine Art Portraits of Elizabethtown, NC.
Pottery lovers will not be disappointed. The grouping includes a surface-carved 15-inch cobalt platter from Jeffcoat Pottery. This came from the collection of Tonda Jeffcoat, whose husband and pottery-making partner Joe passed away in 2020. Wilmington, NC clay artist Brian Evans donated a tall (23-inch) faceted vessel for the auction. Betsy Sellers, whose father was served by Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, created her piece, “Remembering Daddy” in clay, especially for this event.
Tickets are available through the gallery, which is located at 10283 Beach Drive SW in Calabash, NC. Checks and cash are requested. For further information, call the gallery at 910.575.5999 or visit the website: sunsetrivergallery.com. Updates and images of the Fine Art Silent Auction pieces may be found on the gallery’s Facebook page.
The gallery wishes to thank the event’s generous sponsors: Gold: Victoria’s Ragpatch, Calabash Creamery; Silver: Studio 8, Mike & Deb Hutchinson, Ginny & Joe Lassiter, Roseann Cutrone & Larry Johnson; Bronze: Crissy & Trey Maynard, Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage; Family: The Yardbird Emporium, Thomas Seashore Drugs
Vicki Neilon, Inspiration, acrylicBrenda Riggins, Boredom, watercolorLinda Karaskevicus, Purple Reflections, acrylicStudio 8 art group: L-R, Judi Moore, Linda Hester, Barbara Kohn, Vicki Neilon, Donn McCrary, Linda Karaskevicus, Rachel Sunnell, and Brenda RigginsRachel Sunnell, Marsh Meadow, acrylic
Sunset River Gallery announces that Diversity by Studio 8 will open Monday, May 22 and run through Saturday, July 1. A reception to meet the artists is set for Friday, June 16 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Studio 8 is a group of artists who paint together weekly at Sunset River Gallery. It includes Judi Moore, Brenda Riggins, Vicki Neilon, Linda Karaskevicus, Donn McCrary, Rachel Sunnell, Barbara Kohn, and Linda Hester. Studio 8 formed early in 2020, evolving from another painting group at the gallery.
The show is a selection of new works in various styles and media. The pieces range from conceptual to traditional to contemporary. Viewers will see vibrant acrylic landscapes by Sunnell. She also created a conceptual piece for the show, which is titled “Who Do I Reflect?” It features a series of mirrors with faces superimposed on them. Riggins, who is known for her portraiture in watercolor, has also created a number of acrylic coastal scenes.
Judi Moore is working large for this show and will be showing a 36” by 36” hydrangea painting. Barbara Kohn began painting with watercolor, then switched to oil, and now loves the immediacy of soft pastels. Vicki Neilon works in both watercolor and acrylic, and currently enjoys combining abstract with representational, resulting in her distinctive stylized images. Linda Hester also paints in both acrylic and watercolor. She says, “I absolutely love the peace and calm that comes when I am working on a painting. Painting has allowed me to see my environment in a totally new way. It’s a joy to see ideas come to life on paper or canvas.” Linda Karaskevicus has recently found a passion for painting Carolina coastal scenes. She says acrylics allow her to work more quickly, resulting in a spontaneous brush or painting knife application. Her painting style is impressionistic realism.
Individually speaking, the talents of this group are impressive. Collectively, the artists pull from each other’s energy, humor, and love for diverse art styles. Says McCrary, who is known for his use of vibrant colors and simple designs and is the only male in the group, “These girls don’t hold back! Their critiques are direct and helpful.”
A strong supporter of both the Sunset River Gallery and the community, Studio 8 recently stepped up as a major sponsor for the Hearts + Arts fundraiser for Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, which will be held at the gallery on June 2.
About Sunset River Marketplace Located in coastal Brunswick County, Sunset River Gallery caters to both area visitors and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring work by over 100 fine North and South Carolina artists, the gallery is well known in the area for its collection of oil paintings, watermedia, pastels, photography, hand-blown glass, fused glass, pottery, and clay sculptures, turned and carved wood, unique home décor items and artisan jewelry.
A selection of 20th century art features investment-grade fine and modern art, primarily impressionist and abstract. Artists represented include Wolf Kahn, Emile Gruppè, Angel Botello, Raimonds Staprans, Ed Mell, Vladimir Cora, Moses Soyer, Raphael Soyer, Tadashi Asoma, Hunt Slonem, Ida Kohlmeyer, Rolph Scarlett, Jean Xceron, folk artist Mose Tolliver, and sculptors Glenna Goodacre and Milton Hebald. There are two onsite kilns and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. Art classes and workshops are currently being offered on a limited basis. Current class listings are on the gallery website, with frequent updates on the gallery Facebook page.
The gallery address is: 10283 Beach Drive SW, Calabash, NC 28467. Hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, call 910.575.5999 or visit the website at sunsetrivergallery.com. Daily updates are available on the gallery’s Facebook and Instagram pages. The FrameCenter, located within the gallery, is open Wednesday through Friday, 12 noon – 5 p.m. and by appointment. Call master framer Louis Aliotta directly at 910.368.7351.
Sunset River Gallery in Calabash, NC will present a group show titled Setting the Mood, running through Saturday, May 13. The exhibition will feature large format art pieces ranging from 30 by 30 inches to 48 by 60 inches.
Artist Connie Winters, Thinking About Fishing, oil, 24 x 48
Gallery director Samantha Spalti said, “We’ve had a growing number of clients asking for large pieces to help them set the mood for a room, so this show is in direct response to that. A large painting is often a centerpiece – above a sofa, over a dining room table, anchoring a gallery wall. Indeed, it sets the mood. And with our 10,000 square foot space of fine regional art, Sunset River Gallery is in a unique position to showcase that art. The selection in this show offers a range of both media and style, all to help our clients ‘set the mood.’”
Artist Rich Flanagan, Solitary Season, oil 40 x 30
Featured in the show are works by fine regional oil painters, Connie Winters, Pat Puckett, Ruth Cox, Rich Flanagan, Nancy McClure, Bayou Gray, Mary Welch Austin, Nancy Hughes Miller, Carol Iglesias; and acrylic artists, Ginny Lassiter, Cristiana Rioli, Roberta Rotunda, and Sterling Edwards.
Artist Sterling Edwards, Ascribed, acrylic,38 x 50
Spalti adds, “The artists in the show represent a wonderful mix of style and genre – representational to abstract, traditional to contemporary. We think visitors will love this exhibit.”
Artist Pat Puckett, Palmettos Along the Bank, oil, 24 x 48
About Sunset River Marketplace Located in coastal Brunswick County, Sunset River Gallery caters to both area visitors and a growing local community of full-time residents seeking fine art for their homes and businesses. Featuring work by over 100 fine North and South Carolina artists, the gallery is well known in the area for its collection of oil paintings, watermedia, pastels, photography, hand-blown glass, fused glass, pottery, and clay sculptures, turned and carved wood, unique home décor items and artisan jewelry.
There are two onsite kilns and five wheels used by the gallery’s pottery students. Art classes and workshops are currently being offered on a limited basis. Current class listings are on the gallery website, with frequent updates on the gallery Facebook page.
The gallery address is: 10283 Beach Drive SW, Calabash, NC 28467. Hours are Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, call 910.575.5999 or visit the website at sunsetrivergallery.com. Daily updates are available on the gallery’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
The FrameCenter, located within the gallery, is open Wednesday through Friday, 12 noon – 5 p.m. and by appointment. Call master framer Louis Aliotta directly at 910.368.7351.
